Delhi: A fresh water dispute started with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urging Punjab to release water from the Bhakra Dam to avoid excess flows reaching Pakistan after the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgham terror attack.
The Bhakra reservoir, the largest managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), lies under the suspended Indus Waters Treaty, adding a layer of complexity to the already heated disagreement.
However, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann swiftly rejected Saini’s claim, asserting that Haryana had already consumed 103 per cent of its allocated water share. Mann accused the Centre of pressuring the Punjab government, further fueling tensions. “The entire Punjab strongly opposes the decision to provide water for the rights of Punjab and Punjabis to Haryana… We will not tolerate another theft of our rights by the BJP at any cost,” Mann declared on X.
With a backdrop of growing water scarcity concerns, the issue between the two states resurfaced after the recent tragedy of the Pahalgam terror attack. Saini argued that Haryana had only received 4,000 cusecs of its required drinking water, significantly less than its share, and demanded more from the Bhakra reservoir. Meanwhile, Mann countered, claiming that Punjab had already supplied the agreed 4,000 cusecs, rejecting any additional requests from Haryana.
“I want to make it clear that we do not have a single drop of surplus water. We are utilising our share for our purposes. Haryana was given its share, which it has already used up two months ago,” Mann said.
The row escalated as politicians from AAP and BJP weighed in. AAP’s Manish Sisodia accused the BJP of betraying Punjab’s farmers, “The BJP has once again betrayed the farmers of Punjab — the decision to take 8500 cusecs of water from Punjab through BBMB is a robbery against the rights of the people of Punjab! This is the same water that rightfully belongs to the fields and farmers of Punjab. The Congress is silent, and the BJP is complicit in this looting. The people of Punjab will never forgive those who encroach upon their rights. Chief Minister @BhagwantMann’s government has made it clear — Punjab’s water will remain only for Punjab. Not a single drop will be given,” AAP leader Sisodia posted on X.
In response, Delhi’s CM Rekha Gupta warned of a potential water crisis in the capital, accusing Punjab of “dirty politics.” “We will not let any water crisis come upon Delhi. It should be noted that Delhi’s Water Minister Pravesh Verma had posted that the Punjab government has resorted to dirty politics by stopping the water supply to Haryana and Delhi.” “After losing in Delhi, they now want to create a water crisis in Delhi. We are working day and night to provide clean water to every household in Delhi, and now the Punjab government wants to take such revenge on the people of Delhi. Stop this dirty politics, or you will be sent away from Punjab as well,” She added.
